Neighbors raise money to help Worcester boy's grieving family

Monday

Nov 11, 2013 at 6:00 AMNov 11, 2013 at 7:09 AM

By Scott J. Croteau, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — The people living in the Chester Street area are more than just neighbors; many of them consider each other family. They look out for one another, go to children's birthday parties together and pick apples as a group.

They are there for the good times, and they are there for each other in the most unexpected and tragic times.

That closeness is the reason friends and neighbors of 18-month-old Bennett F. Roaf, who died after being struck by his family's car Friday on Chester Street, have gathered to help his family through a fundraiser.

"We're like a family," said Joe Orcutt, who lives on Bjorklund Avenue and is friends with Bennett's mother, Sheryl, and father, Parker. "When we lost power a few years ago we had Sheryl and Parker over to the house. You look out for your neighbors. This is what you are supposed to do."

Bennett was in his mother's arms Friday when a family car began to roll backward in the driveway. The open rear door struck her and knocked her down, just as she took the toddler out of his car seat. They were hit by the runaway car.

Friends of the Roaf family don't want them to worry about bills or other issues at this time. Friend and neighbor Jessika Zequeira, who created the fundraising web page, said the money will go toward whatever the family may need.

"They can focus on healing and not bills and finances," she said, noting that the couple has a young daughter as well.

Maria Whalen, who has two teenage children and lives in the neighborhood, said the fundraiser is the least the community can do to support the family.

"It is such a tragedy," she said. "It is just heartbreaking."

Police continue to investigate the accident. Investigators from the Accident Reconstruction Unit will complete a full inspection on the car and interview witnesses.

The impact of the toddler's death could be seen in a cluster of stuffed animals and flowers left at the scene.

Ann Klejna and her husband, Peter, walked to the memorial Sunday afternoon and left a stuffed bunny. They didn't know the family, but had driven by the home shortly before the accident Friday. Mrs. Klejna wept as she thought about the boy.

A witness told the Telegram & Gazette that a woman in a pink jacket who was jogging by stopped and identified herself as a lifeguard and performed CPR on the child until an ambulance crew arrived minutes later.

Another woman who stopped to help as well. Danielle Goodro of Westport Road was driving with her husband, Nathan, when they saw the traffic. Mr. Goodro saw the boy.

"I said, 'Turn around. I am going to run back down there.' I felt compelled to help," said Ms. Goodro, a certified medical assistant. "The poor little boy; it was just a freak accident."

Holding back tears, Ms. Goodro, 28, said she helped the jogger perform CPR on Bennett.

"That was tough. I got in the truck and started crying," she said. "I called my dad after it happened. I was hysterical in the truck. He was just a little kid."